Lagos requires N27b to tackle ocean surge, says Fashola

ABOUT N27 billion will be needed to tame the challenge of perennial ocean surge along the coastal lines in Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola said yesterday.

The funds are required in the next three years, the governor told his audience at the opening of a three-day Climate Change Summit held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island. The summit is the fifth of such to be organised by the state through its environment ministry.

Fashola recalled the incidence surrounding the ocean surge at Kuramo Beach front last year, saying the surge came at a time there was no vote for it in the 2012 fiscal year.

He said: “In the implementation of last year’s budget, we did not conceive that the uncompleted part of the Eko Atlantic City would be overrun by the ocean. The Kuramo surge late last year came and took away walls of properties from the end of Ahmadu Bello Way right down to Alpha Beach.

“We didn’t budget for that. We didn’t see it coming, but what did we do? In the last quarter of the year, we called all the departments together that everybody must contribute some capital votes so that we can start an urgent protection of all of the properties on the road, right down to Alpha Beach.”

According to him, the combined effort of the government agencies has so far yielded about N6 billion, which the state committed to the protection of the shoreline.

He said his administration has not received any form of assistance from other sources.

Fashola said: “But it gladdened my heart and I am sure I speak the minds of my colleagues when we went there last week and we saw that the shoreline that was already on the fence of those properties is now residing and giving residents a breather”.

The governor noted that the Eko Atlantic City project has also contributed immensely to the protection of properties on Victoria Island axis from being overtaken by the ocean.

“If that project had not been started, we would not have been here today. Many of the houses that were abandoned and real estate business have come back, jobs have returned to that coastline,” Fashola said.

He urged participants not to see the fifth Climate Change Summit as another talk shop, but to see it as a wake-up call on all to adapt to the threats of climate change, noting that natural disaster was fast killing more people than war.

He added that the focus has shifted from talking climate change to understanding the dangers and threats it poses.

Fashola noted that man’s quest for survival has distorted the course of nature and the planet earth was gradually reaping the consequences.

His words: “We are in a constant battle and nature will continue to fight back, we need to slow down and change the way we do some things, that’s the heart of the adaptability and what this Summit addresses. Once we agree to slow down on some things, nature will also pull back.”

Stressing that his administration has engineered policies on climate change mitigation and adaptation, he said over 1000 drainages across 24 council areas have been cleared to reduce flooding.

The governor also cautioned residents to desist from burying loved ones in their houses, saying that the decomposed bodies could come back to haunt residents in their quest to drill boreholes in search for portable water.

“When you dump diesel or engine oil on the ground carelessly, they go into the ground water. So, every time you drill a borehole in order to extract water, you should be rest assured that you are taking in some chemicals into your body.”

In his welcome remarks, Environment Commissioner Mr Tunji Bello, said the previous summits have clearly shown the state’s commitment to the development and evolvement of a climate change-conscious society.

Bello said the measures were being taken to lay the necessary foundation to counter the prospective global threat.

He described as apt for the moment this year’s theme; “Vulnerability and Adaptability to Climate Change in Nigeria with particular focus on Transportation, Housing and Infrastructural Sectors of Lagos State.”

He said the objectives of the summit will seek to promote and sustain an infrastructural system that is environmentally friendly and geared towards reduction in carbon emission.

The British Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Peter Carter, praised the state’s efforts in mitigating impact of climate change.

Carter explained that climate has impact on the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and could affect the viability of resources as well as security of Africa.

Appealing to the Federal Government to address all aspect of climate change, the envoy said Britain will work closely with government to ensure the implementation of adopted policies.

In his presentation, guest lecturer Prof Ogunlade Davison spoke of the need for sustainable development strategies that will help mitigate the impact of climate change.

Davison said climate change is a developmental issues more than environmental problem, stressing that everyone need to change from the way they are doing things in order to effectively address the challenges.

“Everyone has to reduce emission. We cannot continue with the way we are doing business anymore,” he said.

The lecturer said efforts should be made for Africans to convert the abundant natural resources to add value to human lives.